New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-21
GREAT DAMAGE INBAYO;NNE.
rIRHMEsHARD AT WORK FOR nASYHouRs

4
THE STANDARD OIL ooMPASY's EXTENSIVE PIAN1
IN DANGER-vARIOUs VIEWS. OF THE LOSS.
| The fire at the Standard Oil Company's works in
Constable Hook, Bayonne, N. j., yesterday, swept
over q large area and destroyed property worth
several hundred thousand dollars. The loss cannot
be definitely determined but it 10 variOusly estimated
at from q million to million and ahalt II was not
insured The property destroyed included AK ,iers,
three largo storehouses several smaller buildings fonr
large tanks flied with oil and Large Quantity OF It'll
and empty oil barrels, together with valuable ma
chinery, pump houses, etc.
The fire broke out shortly after midnight in the
supply house, which in the lower end OF the yard
and In few minutes the structure was a mass of
flames The Waterman gave an alarm which sum-
moned all the compauys employees to the scene. The
employees have been organized and drilled to do fire
duty and they at first endeavored to fgrt the fro
themselves, bat q briet experience snficed TO show
them the futility ofther effort. general alarm was
then sent out and the entire Firc Department. OF
Bayonne responded. In the time the flames had
communicated with four large oil tanks on either
SIDE of the supply house. an as the oil caught re she
heat became intense while great Volumes OF black
smoke perpedisnlArly the air and darkened all
the sky Several streams of wafer were poured on
each tank but the only effect of tbs water seemed to
be to make tho tire burn moro herceiy SEEING that
the effort to the tanks useless, the fremen
uined their attention to q largo warehouse on the
shore front and in dire,t line with the tankA They
drenched the burning building with water and fought
the approaching danes inon Nv inch.
A large number OF the companys employees stationed
themselves inside the building and from the windows
directed streams of water the fire. Suddenly
terrific oson ard followed by three Others
aud the burning oil from tho tanks ran alOug the
ground it'll irresistible force setting fire to the beams
under the flooring of che warehouse. The men inside
were in imminent danger, and they tell over ono
another in their frantic efforts to escape. They all
succesded in getting out without serious injury but it
narrow escape tor in less time than it takes to
write the statement the entire building mass of
seethng flames and burned like much timber.
runway used for rolling barrels from warehouse
to another served to cOnduct the fire to second
warehouse, and that too quickly succumbed to the
tnry of the flames. From the warehouses the fire
spread to the wnarves and Sheds which offered but
littls resistance Between 4 aud o'clock 1t looked
as il the hole of the company's, extensive plant,
several oil reneres, manufacturing establishments
and lumber yard, and possibly large part OF the
City Bayonne would be devastated but fortunately
there wind blowing.
II seemed it all tho inhabirapts OF tho city wero
at the scene. and many women were nervou.iy
xious for the safety of their husbands Who
fighting the Dire. About q. m. the fire was at
its height, aud from that time steadily decreased
until al noon It was under control When the heat |
subsidized sufficiently to permit in vestigaon to he
made, il found that nothing had been left in the
area which the tire had ragged but q mass of |
sm0uldering ruins. and here and there a huge iron |
tank and twisted out of shape 1t it had been
struck by lightning. 1t is matter of sons surprise
that the loss not greater. the large nclosure in
which the c0mpanys works located is studded |
with huge oil tanks with capacity varying from
10000 to 60, 900 barrels There at least 100 OF
these tanks and II there had been ans wind blowing
Il would have been next to impossible to prevent them
taking fire. The warehouses we're all built OF brick
and barrels of oil and empty barrels. One
warehouse contained 600 barrels OF refined oil ready
TOR shipment worth 81 80 a barrel. 40 OF the
tanks which exploded had capacity of 5000
barrels EACH and the other two 10000 barrels EACH
Inc supply house contained property estimated to he
worth : 10, 00O The piers and warehouses cannot be
replaced for much less than O,OOD, that the |
,ntire loss will proba oily approximate SsO0.OCO
There at the place to give any iDtorma-
don, and all inquirers referred to the main
Jtfee in Ne~-York. Fight fire tugs rendered dgent
service in helping to prevent the spread of the fire.
Two vessels which were partly AIDED we're towed
way before the flames cached them The company's
employees and the Bsyoune tremen were completely
Shsusted aud deserving OF great praise Tor ther
heroic work. The origin OF the lire is mystery. |
There has been ire in the supply bnilding tor
mouths aud permitted to take fire in or
{. There IA some suspicion ut incendiarism.
At the Off of the Standard Oil Company in this
,itv il was stated that the fire had destroyed four
" harves, two warehouses; 5000 barrels of oil stored
n tanks and 200 barrels in barrels. The OF
the fire had heed ascertained, but thorough in
resignation will he made. The total loss, it said.
would be less than SI25.000 ON the buildings and
contents, but buildings, etc, will be replaced al cost
Jt Sl5OOOO. There no Insurance. although
the Standard company places insurance on
IL property. "A rule. however, the insurance 10
carried by the stockholders.